A gay-friendly professional baseball team might seem an oxymoron: kind of like “compassionate conservative.” But gay and lesbian fans of the San Diego Padres Baseball Club have a team they can be proud to cheer for, on and off the field.

Let me share a brief example of why. In Oct., 2001, I organized a fund-raiser for gay and lesbian spouses who had suddenly and tragically lost their partners in the terrorist attacks a month earlier. When I approached the Padres about potentially donating something for the fund-raiser, they didn’t hesitate. The club donated two baseballs signed by sluggers Phil Nevin and Ryan Klesko, who earlier that year combined to hit 71 home runs and drive in 239 RBIs.

The balls went for $250 a piece.

Thanks to other donations, including a “matching” donation of all funds raised by then Bourbon Street owners Tom Felkner and Bob Lehman, the event raised more than $3,000, all of which was donated the next day to a special fund set up in New York.

Now, six years later, the Padres are continuing their tradition of helping more gays and lesbians, this time right here at home.

On Thursday, June 7, when the Los Angeles Dodgers are in town, you might catch a glimpse of a section of seats high atop home plate with a large contingent of people wearing sky-blue colored T-shirts. These will be the players, their loved ones and fans of the America’s Finest City Softball League (AFCSL) who have all bought tickets as a group to come “Out at the Park” and take in a game.

Tom Abbas, AFCSL commissioner, says this will be the third year the league has orchestrated this event and he says it’s a great way to make money.

“We started the Out at the Park event in 2005 when we hosted the Gay Softball World Series as a way of promoting the gay community in San Diego, and as a fund-raiser,” Abbas said. “The Padres donate a portion of ticket sales from large group events like this back to our organization. The league then uses those funds to help pay for the use of the fields, supplies for the games and umpires.”

Even amid rising costs to the league, players still only pay $50 per season to participate in the AFCSL, and have for several years now. Part of why player and sponsor fees have not increased is because the league is proactive in finding fun and interactive ways to raise additional money to off-set increasing expenses.

Abbas said, “By having a fund-raiser like this, we are able to keep the fees for players and sponsors consistent.”

The Padres are happy to help.

George Stieren, the Padres’ director of business public relations and special events, said the club is in the “yes business,” a directive handed down in the early days of its ownership under John, Becky and Jennifer Moores.

“Every decision we make is based on being welcoming to everyone in our community,” Stieren said.

Abbas said his group of a couple of hundred spectators always has a great time, and feels right at home. “The Padres have always acknowledged our group on the scoreboard during the game and would even go as far as letting us throw out the first pitch when our group attending the game gets large enough.”

For Abbas, he hopes they reach that goal, and surpass it. “It is my hope that some day we can reach 1,000 people in our group at a game,” he says. “That would really show the citizens of San Diego that we are a large and cohesive community.”

Abbas may one day get his wish.

The Padres are a popular draw for gay and lesbian sports fans. Their attention may have first been captured in 1995, when the club brought some eye candy to its roster in the iconic form of former San Diego Padres third baseman, the late Ken Caminiti, he with the piercing eyes and pecs the size of a Volkswagen.

Of course, the GLBT community’s affection for the Padres can’t only be explained by the aesthetic of its 40-man roster (or by the fact that it has 40 men). Certainly some of it has to do with the quality of baseball, the venue that is Petco Park, the personalities of the team’s popular players and that it is, after all, our home team.

But whatever the reason, the popularity of the Padres among gays and lesbians doesn’t come out of left field to the ball club.

“We’re not surprised at all,” said Stieren. “We have a first-class ballpark and strive to offer a first-class experience. We also try to be more than just a ball club.”

Stieren added, “We look forward to hosting [the AFCSL], just like we do every group that comes to Petco Park to support the Padres.”

Tickets to Out at the Park are $18, and can be purchased at Obelisk Bookstore in Hillcrest or online at www.padres.com. Click on “Tickets” then “Group Sales Information,” then “Ticket Window.” The login name is OUTATTHEPARK in all caps, and the password is PADRES, also all caps. Tickets must be purchased by June 4.

For more information, visit www.afcsl.org.